© 2014 Lawrence Tuczynski

Greatest Hits CD
Title Classic Themes From Godzilla - Volume 1
CD Label Amazon LLC
CD Number 859712235848
Music by: Various Artists
Number of tracks 26
Running time 76:25
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture March 08, 2014

REVIEW

April 02, 2014

The title says it all. This is one of many "greatest hits" CD's on this site. This particular one was just released on March 08, 2014 and is made here in America in Lexington, KY via Amazon LLC and available at Amazon.com at: http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Themes-Godzilla-Various-Artists/dp/B00J9XJN48/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1396462233&sr=1-2&keywords=Godzilla.

While those of you who have been collecting Japanese Godzilla CD's for years will probably have most of this material, it's a great disc for beginners looking to start and at $9.98 the price is right. The booklet and tray insert for this disc tells you nothing except the track titles and film they were from. No other info at all. And if you look at the track listing below (copied EXACTLY as in the disc booklet) you'll see they had some trouble with the translations and movie titles.

While the disc is fine, one thing I especially like is that several tracks contain sound effects prior to the music. Track 5 has some ocean sounds followed by Godzilla's roar. Track 7 has helicopters, someone shouting "It's Godzilla!" and Morse code for SOS. The first two minutes and thirty seconds of Track 8 features jets flying and firing, machine gun sounds, Godzilla roars and tank noises before getting into the music. The beginning of Track 14 features the roar of King Kong. Track 24 is the rock 'n 'roll vocal of "Return The Sun". A few other tracks contain a bit of sound effects.

Overall this was a decent disc for the price and just about all the music is from composer Akira Ifukube but there are a few others. If you already have these tracks there is no real need to pick up this disc unless you are a completist or want to add it to your collection for much less than a Japanese disc. One thing I did find a bit funny is that the disc itself must contain the track listing in Japanese rather than English because software that reads the tracks when playing on your PC will display the artists and tracks in Japanese. The disc may have originated in Japan and then licensed through Amazon to press copies here in the U.S.

Classic Themes From Godzilla - Volume 1

  1. "Theme for Valley Krobe" (From "Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster")
  2. Sacred Festival of Ohdo Island (From "Godzilla")
  3. Godzilla Appears (From "Godzilla")
  4. Main Title (From "Godzilla")
  5. Fear Of Godzilla (From "King Kong vs. Godzilla")
  6. An Attack Of Monsters: Main Title (From "Destroy All Monsters")
  7. Seahawk S.O.S. (From "King Kong vs. Godzilla")
  8. Big War of Monsters March (From "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero")
  9. A Premonition for Invaders (From "Terror of MechaGodzilla")
  10. Spaceship from Planet X Appears (From "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero")
  11. Kamakilas Appears (From "Son of Godzilla")
  12. MechaGodzilla Appears (From "Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster")
  13. Plan of Operation to Transport King Kong (From "King Kong vs. Godzilla")
  14. Battle Between King Kong and Godzilla (From "King Kong vs. Godzilla")
  15. Birth of King Ghidorah (From "Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster")
  16. Mothra's Journey (From "Mothra vs. Godzilla")
  17. Mothra and the Twin Faeries (From "Mothra vs. Godzilla")
  18. MechaGodzilla's Revenge-Titles (From "Terror of MechaGodzilla")
  19. Mothra Against Godzilla-Ending (From "Godzilla vs. Mothra")
  20. Suite from "Godzilla Raids Again"
  21. Suite from "Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster"
  22. Suite from "Son of Godzilla"
  23. Suite from "Godzilla on Monster Island"
  24. Return The Sun (From "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster")
  25. Suite from "Godzilla vs. Megalon"
  26. Suite from "Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster"